GORMAN LOOKS TO MAKE A STATEMENT WITH ANOTHER QUICK KNOCKOUT

NATHAN GORMAN wants to send a statement to rest of the heavyweight division by blasting out his second opponent in two weeks.

The Ricky Hatton-trained teenager floored Hrvoje Kisicek three times in the opening round at the Copper Box Arena, on Saturday night and he’s looking for a similarly explosive performance against Poland’s Kamil Sokolowski in Walsall next weekend.

Given that Kisicek had previously been the distance with and reached the second round against , Gorman’s display was little short of incredible.

“I got him out of there in the first round. The first knockdown the referee didn’t count it, but the punches after that landed and he felt them all. It was game over then,” Gorman said.

“He gave Hughie a good fight and not many people get through the first round with Joshua so I think knocking out so quickly will get people talking about me.

“My power has really come on since I’ve been with Ricky. He works on getting everything into my shots and people saw that last weekend.”

Next Saturday’s fight, which co-headlines Hatton Promotions’ and Black Country Boxing’s Mayhem event at Walsall Football Club, will see Gorman step up to six rounds in what is only his fourth paid outing.

“Six-rounders are better for me,” he said. “As an amateur I was used to doing three rounds so four-rounders weren’t really any different, but six will be good.

“Sokolowski will be a tough opponent because he’s boxed pretty much all the upcoming guys in the British top 15 and only Dillian Whyte has stopped him. He’s been in with Kash Ali, and Gary Cornish and none of them could put him away.

“He’s solid and he comes for a fight so I think it’ll really say something about my potential if I can get him out of there.”

‘Mayhem’ also features Gorman’s stable mate Sam Evans alongside the return of former British lightweight champion Martin Gethin and unbeaten prospects Chad Sugden and Kieron McLaren. Rowley Regis’s popular Jason Welborn is also in action against William Warburton.

Tickets are £30 for standard unreserved seats and £60 for VIP tickets which includes table service and a two-course meal. Call the Walsall FC Ticket Office on 01922 651 414 to book.